Music or paper holder



'(No Model.)

- E. R. HORTON.

MUSIC OR PAPER HOLDER.

Patented May 17 1887.

ATFNT rrrcn.

ERVIN R. HORTON, OF NEEDHAM, MASSACHUSETTS.

MUSIC OR PAPER HCLDER.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 363,142, dated May 17,18817.

Application filed July 20, 1886.

T0 aZZ whom it may concern:

Be it known that l, ERVIN B. HORTON, of Necdham, county of Norfolk, andState of Mas; sachusetts, have invented an Improvement in Music or PaperHolders, of which the following description, in connection with theaccompanying drawings, is a specification, like 1ctters on the drawingsrepresenting like parts.

This invention has for its object to construct a music or paper holderor clamp which may be employed to hold in upright position sheets ofmusic or paper.

The invention consists of a clamp composed of spring-wire, orequivalentmaterial, bent to form loops, between which the sheet of paper is held,said loops being curved in the direction of their width, so that thesheet of paper, when placed between them, will be curved or bcntvertically at or near its center, as when held in the hand between thethumb and fingers, the curve or bend in the sheet stiffening the sheetand preventing it from tipping or bending forward or backward, the saidloops at one end being firmly connected the one to the other.

My invention also consists of a clamp composed of two loops of wire, orequivalent material, between which the sheet of paper is placed,combined with a holder for the clamp, the latter having an attaching armor arms to retain the clamp in position upon the framework oftheiustrumentas, forinstauce, upon the scroll of a violin.

That one of the loops of the clamp occupying a position at the rear sideof the sheet of paper is bent to present two fingers or arms extendingupward at each side of the loop, and the wire is also curved in.thedirection of its width, while the other loop, located in front of thesheet of paper, is somewhat shorter and projects upward and backwardbetween the two upwardly-extended arms of the rear loop, so that thesheet of paper will be bent or curved vertically at or near its center,to thus prevent the same from tipping or bending in any direction, thecooperation of the twoloops producing the same result which isordinarily obtained by placing a sheet of paper against the first andsecond fingers of the hand and pressing the thumb against the paperbetween the first and second fingers.

Figure 1 shows in front elevation a music Serial No. 208,532. (Nomodel.)

or paper clamp, together with its attaching arm or device; Fig. 2, aside view of Fig. 1; Fig. 3, a section of Fig. 2, taken on the dottedline x x; and Fig. 4 a top view of the clamp to show the curve in thedirection of the width of the loops.

The clamp consists of two loops, a b, of spring-wire, or otherequivalent material, the ends of which are secured together by a band,0, (see Fig. 2,) other bands, d a, being placed around the loops nearthe band 0 to further secure the loops together; but, if desired,insteadof the two bands d c, the wires might be soldered or twisted together.

The loop a is bent into triangular form.or fan shape, as shown in Fig.1, and the wire 2, at the top of the loop, is curved in the direc tionofits length, as shown in Fig. 1, and the loop is bent backwardly, asshown by Fig. 2.

The loop 6 is considerably larger than the loop a, but of somewhatsimilar shape for part of its length; but its top is bent downward at 3to form two fingers or arms, 4 5. The portion 3 of the loop I) is alsocurved in the direction of itslength, as shown in Fig. 4, to give to theloop a curve in thedirection of its width similar to the loop a.

The sheet of music or other paper is placed between the two loops a b,and by the curve given to the loops in the direction of their width thesaid sheet of paper is bent vertically or made to assume a curve at ornear its center to prevent the said sheet of paper from tipping orbending in any direction, this result being the same as thataccomplished. by holding a sheet of paper against the first and secondfingers of the hand and pressing the thumb against the paper between thefirst and second fingers.

The clamp thus described may be employed for various purposes, such asholding music for the smaller musical instruments.

To enable the clamp to be attached to a CC Lu musical instrument, or toany stationary frame or object, I have provided aholder having anattaching device, herein shown as composed of two spring-arms, theybeing of suitable shape to embrace snugly that part of the instrument orthing to which the clamp is to be attached.

In the present instance I have shown an attaching device by which theclamp or holder IOO may be attached to a violin, the said attachingdevice consisting of spring-wire bent to form two arms, f g, the ends ofwhich are coiled, as at 8 9, to engage the usual hubs or projections ofthe scroll of the violin when the said arms are sprung apart and placedupon the scroll.

The attaching device herein described is secured to and forms part ofthe holder in which the clamp is placed, said attaching device beingconnected with the said holder at a suitable angle to bring the music invertical position.

The clamp at its lower end is provided with a projection, (herein shownas a loop, 12,) which enters a slot cut in the-top of the holder 71 tothus prevent the clamp from rotating.

By employinga holderJz, in which the clamp may be placed, the positionof the said clamp may be reversed, in order that either face of thesheet may be brought to view, and to accomplish this result the holder his slotted at 20 to receive the projection 12 when the clamp or holderis reversed.

It is obvious that the attaching device, instead of being made ofspring-wire, as shown, may be made of metal, either rigid or yielding,and of such form as desiredto attach the clamp to an instrumentand holditin upright position. The attaching device will be modified-in formagreeably with the instrument for which it is designed.

I claim-- 1. A clamp comprising aloop, a, of substantially triangularfan shape, and having its top portion curved in the direction of itslength and bent backwardly, and the loop 1), larger than the otherloop,of the same general shape, having its top depressed and curved andprovided with arms 4 5, and connected with said vided with arms 4 5, andconnected with said other loop, a holder, 11, in which said loops aresecured, and the attaching-arms f 9, attached to said holder andconstructed to engage the article to which they are designed to beapplied, substantially as described.

4. A clamp composed of. two loops bent to hold the paper, combinedwith aholder in which the said clamp is pivoted, and means, substantially asdescribed,to engage the holder to prevent rotation of the clamp, and anattaching device for securing the holder with the clamp therein inplace, substantially as described.

5. In a music or paper holder, a clamp to hold the paper, combined witha holder in which said clamp is pivoted, and means, substantially asdescribed, to engage the clamp with said holderto bring either of itsfaces in view, substantially as described.

In testimony whereof I have signed myname to this specification in thepresence of two subscribing witnesses.

ERVIN R. HORTON. Witnesses:

BERNICE J. NoYEs, FRED L. EMERY.

